Nolo's Essential Guide to Buying Your First Home (67 page)

Other.

 

NOTES:

 

TIP

 

If the seller is at the walk-through, get friendly.
Establishing a relationship you can draw on later, after your agents and the others are gone, can be invaluable. If negotiations were tough, try to put the business side of the transaction behind you, and ask practical questions like, “How do the burners on this vintage gas stove light?” and “Is that a fruit tree?” Also ask the seller for contact information, including a forwarding address. (You’ll no doubt get some of the seller’s mail, and can your conscience handle throwing away a letter from a long-lost relative?) Years from now, you may also need to call with questions like, “Where can we buy replacement tiles for the ones you installed?” or “What’s this urn full of ashes in the attic?” If the seller isn’t at the walk-through, you might want to get in touch or meet soon after the closing, for the same purpose.

 

TIP

 

Gather all your new home’s plans, documents, and more.
According to California inspector Paul A. Rude, developers can be difficult to contact after the home is yours. Insist on copies of architectural plans, names of all the contractors and subcontractors, and any written warranties that came with building materials and appliances. These will come in handy for later repairs, matching new materials to old, and so forth.

 

CD-ROM

 

Use the “Final Walk-Through Checklist (New Home)” in the Homebuyer’s Toolkit on the CD-ROM.
A sample is shown below. This will help you assess whether everything (such as flooring, landscaping, and sinks) has been finished and is in good shape.

Final Walk-Through Checklist (New Home)

 

Use this checklist to walk through your new house and make sure everything inside and out (from flooring to landscaping) has been finished and is in good shape. Then, create a ʺpunch listʺ of what remains to be done. Work out with the developer how and when needed changes will be made and how this will affect your closing date.

Construction and finishing work is complete, with no missing trim, hardware, or paint, no exposed wires, and all water gutters pointed away from the house.

The landscaping is complete, with grading sloped away from the foundation (no trenches right next to the house). All agreed-upon trees have been planted (often the last thing to be done).

No damage, scrapes, or gouges are visible on counters, walls, floors, appliances, or other surfaces.

All fixtures, carpets, and appliances are the ones you specified.

The keys fit in the locks, keys have been provided for every door, and you know how to use them.

The lights and fans work when you turn switches on and off.

The faucets turn on, no leaks are evident under or around the sinks, and all toilets flush.

The stove, oven, refrigerator, garbage disposal, dishwasher, microwave, and all other appliances work.

The garage door opener works.

The ceilings, wall, and floors are in the condition you expected.

The heating and air conditioning work.

The sump pump, if there is one, works (to turn it on, you’ll normally need to fill the pit with water.)

All windows open and close, and all doors and cabinet doors are hung correctly and open and close smoothly.